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Novel Catalog
Chapter 9
“What’s wrong?” Marco’s voice was taut with frustration as he turned toward his subordinate.
The man hesitated, his expression uneasy. “After Mrs. Bryant left the hospital, she was picked up by a man in a luxury car.”
Marco froze. His blood ran cold at the words. “What did you say?”
A cold fury surged through him as his fists clenched. His mind raced, and for the first time, he felt the gnawing sensation that things were spiraling out of his control.
“Find her,” Marco ordered in a low, dangerous voice. “Find her and the man. Then bring her back.”
Loraine’s eyes fluttered open again, but this time, she wasn’t in the sterile confines of a hospital ward. She was in a warm, luxurious bedroom, the soft golden light of dusk filtering through the curtains.
For a moment, she was disoriented, her mind clouded from the shock of everything that had happened. But then she heard a familiar voice.
“Finally, after being away from home for three years, you’re back. Why would you do this for a man? Are you even still a Torres?”
Loraine turned her head slowly, her heart racing as she recognized the deep, authoritative voice. There, sitting beside her bed, was a tall, imposing figure—a man with a chiseled face and an air of undeniable authority.
Her heart twisted as she saw him, and the dam inside her broke. The tears that had been building for so long spilled over.
“Uncle Rowan, I was wrong,” Loraine whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. “I never should have left home. I shouldn’t have hurt you for an unworthy man. I’m so sorry.”
Rowan Torres, her uncle, a high-ranking official in the army, softened at the sight of his niece in distress. He moved closer and gently held her as she sobbed, brushing her hair back from her face.
“It’s okay,” he murmured, his voice calm and reassuring. “It’s good to have you back.”
Loraine buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking with the weight of everything she’d been holding in. She could feel the comfort of her uncle’s presence, and it made the pain from the past few years seem a little more bearable.
“Lorrie,” Rowan continued, his voice low and steady, “your parents died in an accident, and you were lost in the countryside. We tried so hard to find you. You are the treasure of the Torres family. We won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Just then, the door opened, and an older man entered the room. His presence was like a force of nature, commanding and unshakable. It was Aldo Torres, the patriarch of the Torres family and the owner of Universe Group in Vagow. His reputation was enough to intimidate anyone, and his power was enough to make even the most powerful men quake.
“Don’t cry,” Aldo said, his voice firm but gentle as he approached the bed. “Lorrie, you are the heir of Universe Group. Hundreds of millions of properties will be yours in the future. Whoever hurts you, let him pay.”
“Grandpa…” Loraine’s voice trembled as she lifted her tear-streaked face to look at him. The sight of her grandfather, the man who had always been a pillar of strength, broke her further. She buried herself in his arms, her sobs becoming uncontrollable.
Aldo gently patted her back, his hands steady and warm. “Lorrie, your parents died young. Rowan is busy with the army, and Wesley is working abroad. You are my only heir. Please don’t do anything silly.”
The weight of her family’s love and protection overwhelmed her, and Loraine finally allowed herself to grieve the three years of pain, loss, and betrayal. For the first time, she felt like she could breathe again.
She had left home to chase a fleeting hope, only to realize that the love she sought from Marco was never real. But here, in the embrace of her family, she knew that she was not alone anymore. She had everything she needed to move on.
